~ DIY Roofing: Learn From NY's #1 Roofers

Tag Archives: Roof Types

Roofing protects buildings from outside elements that can severely damage the inside of a home or building. It has to be designed and built well to withstand the wind, rain, sunlight, snow, and hail in your area. Practically every structure depends on a sturdy roof to stay standing and in good condition. There are different designs that are better suited for certain structures. For example, a greenhouse needs a special translucent roof to let the sunlight in while a regular home may need to forgo sunlight so it can be protected against mother nature.

The local weather conditions and other factors will determine your layout style and roofing options on a structure. The three main things to take into consideration when designing a roof are materials, construction, and durability. Your supply options will depend on your location and the construction will depend on the supporting structure. The durability of your roof will be given a lot of attention since this part of your building is harder to access for maintenance. A professional roof inspection will determine if your exterior needs repairs or improvement so schedule them accordingly.

The supportive structure of your building will determine what kind of materials you can use for your roof. A roof has 2 major parts — the outer weatherproofing & membrane layer as well as it’s supports. Depending on your roof design the weatherproofing portion can be self-supporting. Walls are usually the main reinforcement with steel or iron beams adding secondary support. In commercial buildings or factories steel girders or reinforced concrete beams are commonly used. The outermost layer will be determined by the available materials within your locale. Common options include Thatch, slate, shingles, turf, tiles, fiberglass, sheet metal, and many others all available in different styles. GAF roofing materials have been known to withstand the radical NYC weather. It is always recommended to spend a little more money and use the highest quality materials for your exterior.

More detailed considerations will be included in the design along with recommended materials. Examples of such considerations include insulation, energy usage, drainage, and overall costs. Different materials provide their own insulation but additional protection is usually necessary in some states because of weather conditions. To reinforce insulation, roofers usually install plastic sheeting foam, batting, or felt. Other means of improving insulation include reflective surfaces or use of materials with high thermal radiation qualities.

A roof needs to have a good draining system in place to stay useful. Areas with heavy rainfall usually have steeper slopes to prevent water from pooling. Areas with less rainfall usually have more flat schemes and low pitch styles can work in all areas if installed well. Professional roofers determine the pitch by studying and assessing the total rainfall in a year and also account for other environmental aspects.

Traditional roof styles are still very common in several areas but new roof options are quickly catching on, especially green exteriors. One of the best green roofing options involve solar exteriors that can generate electricity. Green exteriors use turf to make a living surface that can minimize the effects of constant exposure to sunlight on your exterior. More commercial buildings are adapting green exterior thanks to the savings it brings from its more efficient design. More and more green options are becoming available all around the world. Make sure to get a good contractor that you can trust and you’ll barely have to think about your roof anymore.